I have been instructed to build a wooden ramp. It will be used for my father to ride up it on his electric wheelchair, so it will need to be able to hold around 450 pounds. (The chair itself is 275 pounds) What kind of wood should I get? And also, if you know how thick the wood should be, that would help too.
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Answer by Awesomeness
my muscles!
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Hardwood holds more weight than soft woods. Hardwoods are hickory, oak, maple. Softwoods are pine and poplar.
ReplyDeleteHowever, MOST wheelchair ramps are made from pine using regular 2x4 decking materials and 4" posts. If you have a little more money to spend, you can always make it out of engineered decking. That stuff lasts forever and has a bit of traction built in.
Oak and Walnut wood are the most durable and sturdy as far as weight goes. @ least 2 - 3 in thick
ReplyDeleteSuch a ramp should be made from a rot resistant material like pressure treated pine. Pine is strong and is one of the common materials used in the structure of most houses. I would use 4 x 4 posts, 2 x 6 joists and 2 x 6 decking.
ReplyDeleteThere are other details about a ramp you need to be aware of. The sites below can give you some help.
It's not the wood that makes it strong but the design and know how. Outside, I would only use treated lumber. If you haven't a clue about how to make this, hire someone who does and help him with the construction.
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